Thousands of pooches swarm local park

Wyman, 8, and Caroline Bailey rest on Forsyth Park's lawn with their beagle Angel on Sunday after all three participated in a doggie yoga class offered at the Doggie Carnival 2008. Caroline says the class was Angel's first and that she noticeably relaxed when Wyman relaxed. Hunter McRae/Savannah Morning News

More than 3,000 dogs took over Forsyth Park on Sunday afternoon - most let their owners come, too.

They had been barking about it for weeks: It was the first Sunday in May, time for Doggie Carnival 2008.

"The closer we got to the park, the more excited they got; they definitely knew what was going on," said Lindsey Tatto, who lives downtown with her two Jack Russell terriers, Buster and Vertigo.

"(Vertigo's) name was Frank, but he used to fall over a lot as a puppy so my friends started calling him Vertigo, and the name stuck," she said.

The event is one of two fundraisers the Savannah Humane Society throws to help the nonprofit organization continue to meet local animal needs.

"The first carnival was held in 1999 as a way to bring more community awareness to animal issues in Savannah, rather than as a fundraiser," said Lynn Gensamer, the Savannah Humane Society's executive director.

Since its inception, the day has evolved into something people look forward to all year long.

"I bought a new calender last December and it was the first day that I marked," said Will Fortune, of Savannah.

Fortune was brought to the park by his black toy poodle, Chick Magnet.

"I wasn't thrilled about the name at first, but it grew on me," said Fortune's wife, Amanda.

Hidden from the sight of most festival patrons is the fact that the day is pulled off almost entirely by volunteers.

It takes about 75-100 volunteers to put on the Doggie Carnival every year.

The volunteers are trained the week before, and for the big day they come early, set up the carnival and then stay late and clean up.

"The community really comes together to make this a great day," Gensamer said.

When the society moved the carnival from Daffin Park to Forsyth, it could no longer charge admission, but it still wanted to use the day as a fundraiser.

This year's celebration also happens to kick off Be Kind to Animals Week.

The week was started in 1915 by the American Humane Society to recognize the special bond between people and their pets.

Although the shelter is located on Chatham County land, the nonprofit is not run by the county.

The group also is not supported by the American Humane Society.

"Most people don't realize our local Humane Society is not financially supported by the American Humane Society," Gensamer said.

Get involved

The Savannah Humane Society is a nonprofit organization that relies heavily on community donations and volunteers to keep its doors open to the hundreds of animals it helps every year.